Cottey golf tees off at Pinehurst

The Cottey College golf team poses with head coach Eric Cameron behind the iconic Putter Boy statue earlier this week at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, where the Comets opened their season in the Georgetown College-hosted Pinehurst Invitational.

Photo courtesy of Eric Cameron

Although the results of the Cottey College golf team's first tournament of the spring season were not what the Comets were hoping for, the experience of playing at one of the most famous resorts in the country sure made the trip worth it.

At least, that was the takeaway of head coach Eric Cameron, whose squad shot an 826 (+250) to finish eighth out of eight teams in the Pinehurst Invitational earlier this week.

"It was just an amazing experience to get to show these young ladies what Pinehurst is all about," Cameron stated after the team returned to Nevada on Wednesday.

The event, hosted by Georgetown College, took place on course No. 6 of the world-renowned Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. All nine courses at Pinehurst are tournament-caliber, with No. 2 being the major championship course.

The Comets learned first-hand why No. 6 was no exception, meeting some kind of danger on every hole, and competing against some talented squads — including Southeastern University, which had four of its five golfers shoot rounds under 80.

Fifth-year senior Ana Uribe accomplished that feat twice, shooting a 78 in the first round before following it up with a one-over-par 73. Needless to say, she dominated the rest of the field and won the meet with a score of 151 (+7).

Teammates Danielle Owens and Ashlynn Joyner rounded out the top three with scores of 158 (+14) and 159 (+15), respectively.

The Fire cruised to a team victory with a collected score of 629 (+53), while Cumberland University was next closest with 673 (+97). Lindsey Wilson College finished third with 678 (+102).

Cottey senior Rachel Hancock had the best individual performance for the Comets, shooting a team-best 90 in the first round, then a 108 in the second, for an overall score of 198 (+54) — good enough for 35th overall.

Sophomore teammate Julia Scism was right behind Hancock in 36th place with a 203 (+59). Nevada High School grad Grace Palmer finished 39th with a score of 211 (+67), followed by fellow sophomore Rachael Carver in 40th with a score of 214 (+70).

Hancock will look to defend her Missouri Valley College Spring Invitational crown starting March 15 when the Comets next head to the Indian Foothills Golf Course in Marshall.